“LuxeBook is a beautifully curated lens into the ever-evolving world of luxury—its people, its trends, and its stories.” Smriti Sekhsaria has spent 17 years launching and building incubation brands with global giants. From being on Croma’s India launch team in 2006 to creating Walt Disney India’s real estate licensing vertical, and later driving Starbucks’ digital ambitions with its app, delivery, e-commerce, and loyalty program personalisation, she has always been at the forefront of innovation. “I’m passionate about building D2C brands in growth spaces through disruptive innovation,” she says. Her mantra: “Everyone can do any job, if provided the right support.” She believes in ecosystems, collaborations, and deep consumer insights, tailoring contextual strategies to make brands unforgettable. Having worked across India and Europe, she has mastered the art of bridging global practices with local nuance. She sees no glass ceiling in luxury: “The industry values passion, talent, and vision above all else.” Entrepreneurs, she adds, succeed with three traits: the ability to thrive in ambiguity, first-principle thinking, and “an unwavering, sometimes unrealistic, optimism.” For Sekhsaria, luxury is “the scarcity of something deeply desired — not just in the material sense but also in experiences and emotions. Luxury is also the art of slowing down in a world that’s constantly rushing.” Her heirloom treasure is her mother-in-law’s reversible Kashmiri engagement ring, and her most unforgettable escape: scuba diving in Havelock, Andaman. | 49 “LuxeBook is a definitive guide for anyone who intends to pursue the evolving world of Indian luxury.” Sonal C Holland, India’s first and only Master of Wine, has spent over two decades in India’s wine industry. In 2016, she earned the world’s highest wine qualification, cementing her place as a trailblazer in the luxury beverage industry. As founder of the Sonal Holland Wine Academy and Chairperson of the India Wine and Spirits Awards, she has empowered professionals, advised global brands through Sohowines Consulting, and curated exclusive experiences for elite networks such as YPO and EO. For Holland, luxury is “... the freedom to create a life rich with extraordinary experiences—from sharing knowledge to building spaces where people connect—while seeing every success as the beginning of an epic journey.” Her French-style villa, The Holland House in Nashik, was inspired by an unforgettable visit to Bordeaux, blending European elegance with Indian warmth and a 360-degree wine experience. Among her most treasured possessions is a set of silver wine glasses, gifted by her teetotaller parents when she became India’s first Master of Wine.” The luxury industry has evolved beyond its former glass ceiling, now offering unprecedented opportunities where women and diverse voices are shaping its future with expertise, creativity, and confident leadership. Holland believes successful entrepreneurs stand out through conviction, courage, and relentless pursuit. Her go-to drink is wine—“nothing conveys sophistication quite like it.” | 48 Smriti Sekhsaria Marketing Director, Moët Hennessy India Sonal C Holland, MW Founder-Director, Sonal Holland Academy, SoHoWines Consulting, and India Wines and Spirits Award
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